Non-invasive physiological sensor cover

Abstract

A sensor cover according to embodiments of the disclosure is capable of being used with a non-invasive physiological sensor, such as a pulse oximetry sensor. Certain embodiments of the sensor cover reduce or eliminate false readings from the sensor when the sensor is not in use, for example, by blocking a light detecting component of a pulse oximeter sensor when the pulse oximeter sensor is active but not in use. Further, embodiments of the sensor cover can prevent damage to the sensor. Additionally, embodiments of the sensor cover prevent contamination of the sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sensor covering system, the sensor covering system comprising:
 a pulse oximeter sensor comprising sensing components including at least a light-emitting component and a light-detecting component; and 
 a sensor cover configured to be adhered to the pulse oximeter sensor and removed before use of the pulse oximeter sensor, wherein:
 the sensor cover is at least partially opaque, 
 at least a portion of the sensor cover protrudes from the pulse oximeter sensor to facilitate removal of the sensor cover, and 
 the sensor cover, when adhered to the pulse oximeter sensor, covers at least one of the sensing components while the pulse oximeter sensor is active and blocks at least a portion of light from the one or more emitters from being received by the detector. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The sensor covering system of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the sensor cover that protrudes from the pulse oximeter sensor extends beyond an edge of the pulse oximeter sensor to enable removal of the sensor cover from the pulse oximeter sensor. 
     
     
       3. The sensor covering system of  claim 2 , wherein the portion of the sensor cover that protrudes from the pulse oximeter sensor comprises a rectangular planar shape. 
     
     
       4. The sensor covering system of  claim 3 , wherein the portion of the sensor cover that protrudes from the pulse oximeter sensor is not adhered to the pulse oximeter sensor when the sensor cover is adhered to the pulse oximeter sensor. 
     
     
       5. The sensor covering system of  claim 4 , wherein the sensor cover, when adhered to the pulse oximeter sensor, further blocks at least a portion of ambient light from a surrounding area from being received by the detector. 
     
     
       6. The sensor covering system of  claim 5 , wherein the sensor cover reduces false readings by the pulse oximeter sensor until the pulse oximeter sensor is in use. 
     
     
       7. The sensor covering system of  claim 6 , wherein the sensor cover is opaque. 
     
     
       8. The sensor covering system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the pulse oximeter sensor further comprises a window formed on a surface of the pulse oximeter sensor that is aligned with the light-emitting component and the light-detecting component to allow light to reach the light-emitting component and the light-detecting component, and 
 the sensor cover, when adhered to the pulse oximeter sensor, covers the window while the pulse oximeter sensor is active and blocks at least a portion of light from the one or more emitters from being received by the detector. 
 
     
     
       9. A sensor cover for use with a pulse oximeter sensor, the sensor cover comprising:
 a cover portion configured to be adhered to a pulse oximeter sensor and removed before use of the pulse oximeter sensor; and 
 a protruding portion that protrudes from the pulse oximeter sensor to facilitate removal of the sensor cover, wherein:
 the sensor cover is removable from the pulse oximetry sensor, 
 the cover portion, when adhered to the pulse oximeter sensor, covers one or more sensing components of the pulse oximeter sensor while the pulse oximeter sensor is active and blocks at least a portion of light from one or more emitters of the pulse oximeter sensor from being received by a detector of the pulse oximeter sensor. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The sensor cover of  claim 9 , wherein the sensing components of the pulse oximeter sensor include at least:
 the one or more emitters; and 
 the detector configured to receive at least a portion of the light emitted by the one or more emitters after the light has passed through a tissue site. 
 
     
     
       11. The sensor cover of  claim 10 , wherein the protruding portion extends beyond an edge of the pulse oximeter sensor to enable removal of the sensor cover from the pulse oximeter sensor. 
     
     
       12. The sensor cover of  claim 11 , wherein the protruding portion comprises a rectangular planar shape. 
     
     
       13. The sensor cover of  claim 12 , wherein the protruding portion is not adhered to the pulse oximeter sensor when the cover portion is adhered to the pulse oximeter sensor. 
     
     
       14. The sensor cover of  claim 13 , wherein the cover portion, when adhered to the pulse oximeter sensor, further blocks at least a portion of ambient light from a surrounding area from being received by the detector. 
     
     
       15. The sensor cover of  claim 14 , wherein the cover portion and the protruding portion together comprise a single integral component. 
     
     
       16. The sensor cover of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor cover reduces false readings by the pulse oximeter sensor until the pulse oximeter sensor is in use. 
     
     
       17. The sensor cover of  claim 16 , wherein the cover portion is partially or fully opaque. 
     
     
       18. A method of providing a sensor cover for a pulse oximeter sensor, the method comprising:
 providing a sensor cover according to  claim 9 ; and 
 adhering the sensor cover to the pulse oximeter sensor, the sensor cover covering one or more sensing components of the pulse oximeter sensor while the pulse oximeter sensor is active. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the portion of the cover portion that protrudes from the pulse oximeter sensor extends past the sensor. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the protruding portion extends beyond an edge of the pulse oximeter sensor to enable removal of the sensor cover from the pulse oximeter sensor. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the protruding portion comprises a rectangular planar shape. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the protruding portion is not adhered to the pulse oximeter sensor when the cover portion is adhered to the pulse oximeter sensor. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the cover portion, when adhered to the pulse oximeter sensor, further blocks at least a portion of ambient light from a surrounding area from being received by the detector. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein cover portion and the protruding portion together comprise a single integral component. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , wherein the pulse oximeter sensor comprises sensing components including at least:
 the one or more emitters; and 
 the detector configured to receive at least a portion of the light emitted by the one or more emitters after the light has passed through a tissue site. 
 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25  further comprising:
 activating the one or more emitters of the pulse oximeter sensor to emit light from the one or more emitters; and 
 blocking, with the sensor cover, at least a portion of the light from the one or more emitters from being received by the detector. 
 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 26 , wherein the sensor cover reduces false readings by the pulse oximeter sensor until the pulse oximeter sensor is in use. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27 , wherein the cover portion is partially or fully opaque. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 28  further comprising:
 pulling the protruding portion to remove the sensor cover from the pulse oximeter sensor to expose the one or more emitters and the detector and an adhesive surface of the pulse oximeter cover; and 
 applying the pulse oximeter sensor to the tissue site.